Emmerdale’s Natalie Ann Jamieson has shared her reasons for leaving the soap after a string of secret chats with ITV bosses about her alter-ego Amy Wyatt’s tragic death. 

Thursday night’s instalment saw the B&B ᴀssistant get rushed to hospital after she plunged into icy water after a limo crash. 

Amy sadly pᴀssed away in hospital surrounded by her husband Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano).

Now Natalie has opened up about her choice to leave the village. 

Speaking to The Mirror, she said: ‘I had been asking for meetings about what was coming up for Amy and saying that I’d really like some challenging, new stuff.

‘They knew they had this coming up and they didn’t have anything planned for Amy – and that was the direction that I wanted to go in.’ 

Emmerdale’s Natalie Ann Jamieson reveals why she REALLY left soap – and her secret chats with ITV bosses ahead of Amy Wyatt’s tragic death

Amy (pictured) pᴀssed away in hospital surrounded by her husband Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano) after she plunged into icy water following on from the limo crash

She continued: ‘It worked out that this was going to be Amy’s exit and I didn’t know it was going to be death at first. 

‘When they told me, I was like, “Oh!” It’s really hard to know whether you would prefer for your character to die if you’re going, or to go in the back of a taxi.’ 

Natalie joined Emmerdale in 2019 after taking on the role from actress Chelsea Halfpenny.

In 2019 she was nominated for Best Newcomer at the TV Choice Awards.  

Chelsea played Amy between 2010 and 2013.

She has had a very successful acting career over the years – as well as Emmerdale, she’s starred in Vera, I, Daniel Blake and Doctors.

She’s also taken part in Pointless Celebrities and Celebrity Mastermind. 

In the episode, Amy’s mother Kerry (Laura Norton) and husband Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano) are by her bedside, as well as her son Kyle (Huey Quinn), who is brought to see her.

In the touching scene, Kyle held her hand and said: ‘Mum, Mum it’s me, Kyle. I’m here. We’re all here. Me, Matty, Granny Kerry, Mackenzie and Dad. I love you Mum. Please don’t die. I need you.’

Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson), pictured, had plunged into the icy water but was pulled out and taken to hospital

Amy’s mother Kerry (Laura Norton), centre, and husband Matty Barton (Ash Palmisciano), right, are by her bedside in the hospital 

Read More Emmerdale fans ‘rumble’ who’s trapped under the ice after limo crash thanks to easily-missed clue

Afterwards, Kyle exclaimed in shock that he felt Amy squeeze his hand, bringing hope that she may be on the mend. 

Later on, Amy gained consciousness and tried to tell Matty what she saw under the water before gasping: ‘I love you’ and closing her eyes again as medical equipment begins to beep – signifying that her heart has stopped for the final time.

When underwater, Amy frantically searched for the way out but turned to see a hand and screamed – another body appeared to be in the water. 

Viewers speculated online who the other body could be – with some suggesting Anthony Fox (Nicholas Day), who was murdered by Ruby Milligan (Beth Cordingly) in a previous episode and his body hidden away.

Other fans spotted a bracelet on the decomposing arm that looked like one made by Nate and Tracy Robinson’s daughter, Frankie – causing some to suggest that it could be Nate who left some time ago. 

A crash team attempts to revive Amy but she tragically pᴀsses away, leaving her son Kyle and husband Matty devastated and what she saw underwater unheard.

Actress Natalie first joined Emmerdale as Amy back in 2019, taking over from Chelsea Halfpenny who originally played the character between 2010 to 2013.

When she originally entered the show six years ago, Natalie told The Sun: ‘I’m incredibly excited to meet all of the talented cast and crew at ITV’s Emmerdale.

Amy gains consciousness and tries to tell Matty what she saw under the water before gasping, ‘I love you’ and closing her eyes again as medical equipment begins to beep

A crash team attempts to revive Amy but she tragically pᴀsses away, leaving her son Kyle and husband Matty devastated and what she saw underwater unheard

Actress Natalie first joined Emmerdale as Amy back in 2019, taking over from Chelsea Halfpenny who originally played the character between 2010 to 2013

She continued: ‘I feel very lucky to be joining the cast of such a loved and respected show. 

‘I’m very grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to find out what the future holds for Amy!’

Before returning in 2019, Amy had a complicated life and had fled Emmerdale to live in Ireland, leaving behind son Kyle with his father Cain.

The character was at the centre of a much discussed pregnancy storyline which saw her briefly consider an abortion before deciding to have the baby and put him up for adoption.

However, she later learned that Kyle’s adoptive parents had died and went on the run with her son.

She later returned him to Cain before fleeing the country to avoid going to jail.

Another Emmerdale legend, Leyla, died on Wednesday’s episode after 16 years on the show.

Leyla had revealed a devastating injury to her leg and was bleeding out in the vehicle with Kerry, who was struggling with a broken foot. 

Before returning in 2019, Amy had a complicated life and had fled Emmerdale to live in Ireland, leaving behind son Kyle with his father Cain

Kerry managed to escape the limo and dragged Leyla along the iced water, exclaiming: ‘She’s in a really really bad way and I think I’ve broken me foot’.

Harrowing scenes showed Leyla’s son Jacob discover her lifeless body in the hospital he was working at. 

Leyla died due to ‘severe blood loss’ after sustaining an injury in the crash, where ice impaled her stomach. 

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.